Ninety years ago, the KKK tried to take over Orange County—only to encounter the district attorney

By spring, this klavern was ready to announce itself. On April 12, it sent an anonymous letter to an Anaheim hotelier that he should leave Orange County immediately—or else. Days later, Klan members attempted to raid a distillery run by Latinos in Inglewood but got in a shootout; when the fracas was over, one person—a Los Angeles sheriff's deputy who was also a Klan member—was dead.

Southern California's district attorneys snapped into action. Los Angeles County DA Thomas Woolwine ordered a raid of the Klan's Southern California offices, in which the area's membership rolls were obtained, including more than 200 names in Orange County—the first version of the List. The following day, while Nelson was in Los Angeles to procure the membership rolls from Woolwine, two Klan members entered his house and warned Nelson's wife to tell him to "lay off this Ku Klux Klan investigation. If he doesn't, something is going to happen."

Nelson was unfazed. "I want to play fair," he told the press. "Some of these members perhaps joined the Klan without realizing what its activities would be. . . . We have had no untoward [KKK] acts committed in this county." He acknowledged that "the principles of the Klan as outlined by that organization [are] truly American," but nevertheless, he was "absolutely opposed" to the group because of its "methods" of taking the law into its own hands. The List wouldn't be made public, but Nelson would keep a copy and use it if necessary.

Alexander Nelson (left) with law enforcement holding a Klan robe captured during a raid on KKK headquarters in 1922

Courtesy Fullerton Public Library

William Starbuck, Fullerton pioneer, in a rare photo of him not wearing a Klan robe

The ploy worked; within a week, dozens of Klan members went to Nelson's office to claim they had withdrawn from the organization. When that didn't work, Nelson wielded the List; on May 9, Nelson revealed that a private investigator who authored a report stating the KKK was a good organization was, in fact, a Klan member. "I know and feel certain that there are many members of the Klan [who] do not stand for nor would not sanction mob violence," Nelson opined in a statement published by the county's dailies, "but whatever their individual feelings or principals may be in this regard, they are associated with an organization that does sanction mob violence and does put out threatening letters."

Two days later, the Klan sent out death threats to four African-American pastors in Los Angeles, vowing to kill them and their congregations unless they left money at a secret location in Seal Beach. They also planned a lynching (euphemistically referred to in seized correspondence as a "party"), but leaders called it off at the last minute, feeling Nelson's heat. Within a week, Nelson outed Arthur E. Koepsel, chairman of the Orange County Republican Party Central Committee and a prominent Santa Ana attorney who planned to face off against Nelson in the 1922 elections, as a Klan member and went to the Orange County Board of Supervisors to disclose that dozens of county workers were Kluckers. The board acted swiftly, unanimously passing a resolution on May 17 that "membership in such an organization is not compatible with the duty to which county employees owe to the public as servants of the public."

Round One went to Nelson. Soon after, the national Klan leadership ostensibly dissolved all California chapters, and Nelson sailed to an easy electoral victory in the fall. But the Klan wasn't done: It went underground and planned a takeover of county offices via the ballot box. In April 1923, members lit crosses in Fullerton, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Brea and Yorba Linda. They were watching—and waiting.

* * *

On March 1, 1924, the Reverend Horace Lackey spoke before an audience of hundreds in Santa Ana. The visiting minister extolled the Klan's virtues and issued a warning to law enforcement. "People have feared the Invisible Empire because of its obscurity—but the mask is a terror to lawlessness and corrupt officials," Lackey roared. "We are fighting fire with fire. We are after big game and will use ammunition that will bag that kind."

That same night, the Klan burned a cross in front of the convent of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Orange; soon, members would begin driving around the St. Joseph elementary school in their robes to frighten students and nuns. The Klan was riding again.

Spring elections were on their way, and the Klan was about to make a grasp for political power, publicly preaching it was on the side of white working men and families. Just weeks before Lackey's speech, a letter was sent to Brea oil officials threatening to burn derricks unless they stopped overworking workers. On March 27, just before the election, the Klan burned another cross in the hills of Fullerton where it would be visible around town.

No one knew who was Klan and who wasn't, and after votes were cast, the Klan found itself with majorities on the Brea, Fullerton and Anaheim city councils and with members on the Anaheim, Santa Ana, Fullerton and Brea school boards. Once in power, it moved to solidify dominance. In Anaheim, the Klan-majority council began forcing non-Klansmen to resign from city posts; in Santa Ana, the Klan school board members tried to do the same. When Fullerton councilman W.J. Carmichael publicly criticized the Klan's stranglehold over the city's police department, the group burned a cross on his lawn. KKK rallies were held in Anaheim, Santa Ana, Fullerton and Orange, each increasing in attendance, each lit by a fiery cross.

".. the Invisible Empire had launched a violent campaign of cross burnings, death threats and angry rallies in its quest for civic domination and white supremacy."That's it - second paragraph - second sentence - no need to read further; I am calling BULLSHIT!

You have presented no evidence that the OC Klan of the 1920's (actually 1922-25) was on a “quest for white supremacy.” Why would they be on such a quest? The OC population of non-whites at that time was less than 10% in the OC.

What the KKK of 1922-25 OC was about was:1. Supporting Prohibition aggressively2. Hating Catholics3. Political power. The Klan capitalized on genuine discontent through aggressive newspaper criticism of the Anaheim City Council - (sounds like GA would fit right in).4. Business interests - if you didn’t belong to the Klan you didn’t do business with certain people5. They didn’t like unions6. A shoppers discount - 20% off for Klan members7. Protection against speeding tickets8. Did I say hating Catholics?

I will give you this Gustavo; there is no doubt that race played a part in the OC Klan - people were concerned about the influx of Mexicans fleeing the terror of the Mexican Revolution. But this was no “quest for white supremacy” in the OC. The worst event in the OC that you could come up with was “a large rally near a Mexican citrus camp.

Before you go calling me a supporter or apologist for the OC KKK, let me say that I completely 110% agree with Alexander P. Nelson’s statement:"In my opinion, the KU KLUX KLAN as an organization is absolutely un-American, and its slogan of 'One Hundred Per Cent American' is absolutely misleading, for the reason that the fundamental principles upon which the KLAN is founded are RACIAL HATRED AND RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY," But your statement that the OC KKK was on a “quest for white supremacy” is also absolutely misleading and is counterproductive towards fostering racial tolerance and understanding.

HOW EMBARRASSING! Leave it to a winner like Gustavo to score this flub. He wouldn't know a degree in journalism if it was used to light his ass on fire. "In Fullerton, Charles Stanley Chapman, son of citrus magnate Charles C. Chapman (for whom Chapman University and Chapman avenues in Orange and Fullerton are named),..." C.C. Chapman is NOT the same Chapman that Chapman Ave. in Orange is named after. That street is named after attorney Alfred Beck Chapman, who co-founded Orange. It's an easy mistake, but really, Gustavo, do you have to be so simple minded. Google is your friend. Try some elementary research.

Maybe if the Klan was around mexican's wouldn't go around showing their bravery by killing homeless white men, busting a kid's head open in with a brick in San Clemente or beating a white paramedic into a coma while he walks through the parking lot at Dodger Stadium with his daughter. The Klan was Scotts_ Irish not Anglo Saxon you a-hole. You know nothing you mexican racist.

What a great piece that document's our county's lamentable past. Thanks, Gustavo, for the extensive research and for sharing details that took place right here on our own soil. Despite Albert Launer thinks about Alexander Nelson, what Nelson accomplished was not just incredible but brave and courageous. To rail against regressive 1920's mentality and risk the expected terrorist klan response speaks volumes about Alexander Nelson. I sincerely hope your writing will garner enough attention to officially recognize Nelson's efforts.

As One who personally knows what is was like in South Carolina, NOT to be able to drink from Public Water Fountains, NOT to be able to attend elementary schools which were not segregated, and NOT to be able to go outside after Sunset because of the presence of The Ku Klux Klan, The John Birch Society (JBS), and / or simply Mean - Spirited and Racist White Folks who Committed heinous Acts With Impunity, I always wonder why The OC WEEKLY routinely discusses “OC KKK Past,” yet never mentions “OC JBS Past & Present,” especially through present political agendas perpetuated by Tea Party Libertarians. But then, nobody talks about Ron Paul’s close ties to the JBS (which is alive and well in Orange County)

Meanwhile, the very popular four - hour “Coast - To - Coast AM” radio show (heard on all Clear Channel radio stations), is always pandering to Ron Paul supporters. For The Ignorant, The Historical Revisionists, and The Politically - Inept, I suggest doing Your own research regarding Ron Paul’s (and Newt Gingrich’s) close ties to Western Goals Foundation (WGF) members, deceased Congressman Laurence Patton McDonald (who before dying on Korean Air Lines flight 007, was the second national president of the JBS and the founder of WGF). Many of WGF’s members were former (sic) high-ranking military intelligence personnel. A lawsuit brought against the organization led to one of the biggest scandals in the history of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). LAPD Detective Jay Paul, assigned to the Public Disorder and Intelligence Division (PDID), and several other LAPD personnel were forced into retirement and PDID was disbanded.

That is why during The 1990’s, I, along with guys like Colonel David “Hack” Hackworth (RIP - A TRUE Patriot), began appearing on political talk radio shows, making sure that Ollie North did NOT get elected Senator in Virginia. So, I know exactly what North / Newt Gingrich in 1994 meant just as The Tea Party Libertarians Today means, with the same Racist Bastids saying, "We are going to take our country back."

Excellent article. Two points: 1) Maybe Nelson's grave could be found if someone cared enough to go look -- I've found old family members this way. 2) ""Some of these members perhaps joined the Klan without realizing what its activities would be. . " <--Where have we heard this one before. [whistling]

Just cause you are not KKK does not mean you are not part of some kind of other secret racist puritan group. If your friends are all the same ethnicity and all claim foreign status and are all married to the same imbread entities of genomes. Your racist holmes. This songs for you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

And if you have a problem with my wife being a different race or culture than me Mr Gustavo later in life when I get married. Just remeber Mr Pro Mexican puritian. Your listed on the muticultural list swinging have breads. Got you.

Yes very good article GUSTAVO. As my forefathers where American Indian during this time. It is nice to sees a well written article on the matter. However, during this time of economic warfare on the US. It would be better to do more articles on Che Guevara and his racist views of the Soviets being able to take over the world. As per Marxist and Engles books as per the best mono culture race. Which as Che idea of communistic dominate are in line with the racist idea of mono culture take over I think your skills as a racist Mexican as per other articles I have read about you. Where you do not claim to be an American nor a pro American, which is all three countries Canada USA and Mexico, nor do you claim to be an American. Which by the way if you wrote like this in Mexico most likely you know what would happen. So that is nice of you as a pro racist Mexican to write against the pro racist Europeans. Which by the way Gustavo you are Spanish my friend and so was a lot of the KKK members ancestors. But that is a different study.

As such, mr pro Mexican racist man. How about a list of communist in Orange County that are writing against our countries principles of Democracy and multiculturalism along with creating major espionage against our country. That would be a great list and a much more relevant one. As today you can go on the KKK website and see a list of their members. Nice articles though, really made me understand where my great grandparents and my grandfather had to go through.

I am definitively going to go to that collection room and see if they have anything on Communist extremist. Remember Gustavo if you are pro Mexican pride you are really no better than the KKK. As a multicultural mut, it upsets me to read your other articles that you are so pro your puretain race.

Rider ithats my opinion. Along with that writing about the KGB old social club or even the MSS espionage social club is much more dangerous than writing about a church social club. Its fun. Again as a muticulturist it makes me sad to see you act like as pure your puritan beliefs in pro Mexican and brown pride as if you are not racist or just as bad as the KKK. Very sad and upsetting.

As you in your other writings represent racial prejudice and intolerance by having such strong tones as a Mexican. When you are not you are an American at least and a USA citizen at most.

Along with that the Communist are the real threat as they are both racist against cultures of differences as Communism does not believe in difference of cultures, along with prejudice against religious and have high intolerance for religious freedoms.

So good job I hope your Mexican pride brothers and sisters feel good about your racist article battles. But again, now that it seems you have leaked your source. Us non racist types on the real battle scene need help stopping economic implosion by foreign espionage units.

You think you have wadros write about espionage agents and their use of our citizens to destroy the great Multicultural Democracy

Well "major" how quickly you forget the glorious history of your party... Luckily for you there are young historians like me to refresh your memory.

The complete list of the 21 Democrats who opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 includes Senators:

- Hill and Sparkman of Alabama - Fulbright and McClellan of Arkansas - Holland and Smathers of Florida - Russell and Talmadge of Georgia - Ellender and Long of Louisiana - Eastland and Stennis of Mississippi - Ervin and Jordan of North Carolina - Johnston and Thurmond of South Carolina - Gore Sr. and Walters of Tennessee - H. Byrd and Robertson of Virginia - R. Byrd of West Virginia

The bill came before the full Senate for debate on March 30, 1964 and the "Southern Bloc" of 18 southern Democratic Senators and one Republican Senator led by Richard Russell (D-GA) launched a filibuster to prevent its passage. Said Russell: "We will resist to the bitter end any measure or any movement which would have a tendency to bring about social equality and intermingling and amalgamation of the races in our (Southern) states.

Democrat Senators organized the record Senate filibuster of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Included among the organizers were several prominent and well known liberal Democrat standard bearers including:

- Robert Byrd, current senator from West Virginia - J. William Fulbright, Arkansas senator and political mentor of Bill Clinton - Albert Gore Sr., Tennessee senator, father and political mentor of Al Gore. Gore Jr. has been known to lie about his father's opposition to the Civil Rights Act. - Sam Ervin, North Carolina senator of Watergate hearings fame - Richard Russell, famed Georgia senator and later President Pro Tempore

Outside of Congress, the three most notorious opponents of school integration were all Democrats: - Orval Faubus, Democrat Governor of Arkansas and one of Bill Clinton's political heroes - George Wallace, Democrat Governor of Alabama - Lester Maddox, Democrat Governor of Georgia

Jim Clark Sheriff Selma Alabama, Mr. Clark was famous in particular for the events of March 7, 1965 — known ever after as Bloody Sunday — when peaceful black protesters in Selma, on their way to Montgomery, were beaten back by Alabama state troopers under the direction of Gov. George C. Wallace.

the Kennedy administration arranged a deal with the governors of Alabama and Mississippi. The governors agreed that state police and the National Guard would protect the Riders from mob violence (thereby ending embarrassing media coverage of bloody lawlessness), and, in return, the federal government would not intervene to stop local police from arresting Freedom Riders for violating segregation ordinances when the buses arrived at the depots (even though such arrests violated the Supreme Court's Boynton decision

So there you have your party's shameful history... and you have the stones to call tea partiers and republicans racist... Go away... SIR!

"These were not violent men," wrote Warren C. Bowen in a 1991 remembrance for a Fullerton publication. "They sought little more than to preserve the life they thought should typify the USA and suburban Southern California; to have a peace and law abiding community."

This statement is out of the mitch young "How to be a Good OC klowncilman textbook.

You're an idiot, shut up already! Isn't it enough I wasted my time reading your first incoherent rant? I call myself Mexican because my parents are Mexican that doesn't make me racially biased it shows I take pride in my heritage. The fact that you fell in love with someone outside your race has nothing to do with the article that was posted, so why bring it up?

Oh, I forgot, cite one post where Gustavo states that he opposes multicultural or inter-racial marriage.

I'm not going to change your mind, any more than you're changing mine, my main point is just to document that there are people out here that think the Gustavo bashers are off-base, and for reason. If no one posted in opposition that would be an easy misconception to form.

Wow, an early entry for most incoherent post of the year. "... swinging have breads." Really?The folks are going to really have to work to beat this one. Grats!

Really, read your post over a couple of times before you hit "Post as ...". I'll probably still disagree with you but at least I'll know why.

In response to your other posts, just because someone espouses Communist ideals doesn't necessarily make them unamerican, Communist ideals are actually humanitarian. It just makes them unrealistic. Of course when you say "Communist" you actually mean "Totalitarian Socialist", a common error, but why start being precise in your statements now?

Most people are unaware that African Americans were originally linked to the party of Lincoln. The newly freedmen were running Southern state legislatures and sending representatives to the US Capitol after the Civil War. The Democrats eventually regained power in the South through deceit and violence with the help of the klan.

The shift from one party to the other by African Americans came after the passage of the Civil Rights Act which came about from heavy lobbying from a Southern Democrat President, LBJ. This sent the Southern 'conservatives' to the Republican party and today the South has seen gains by the GOP since the Raygun revolution in the eighties and nineties.

Racists exist everywhere and in both political parties. It takes people with real stones like Alexander P. Nelson to rail against and out the racists in a time when it was unpopular to do so.

I did not say Gustavo apposes it. I said if he does oppose my marriage to another non imbread race in my current genome holdings. Again Bill focus be more specific. I did not bash him either. I am trying to get him to stop being so racist by showing him his flaws.

Bill when I say Communist. I mean Communist. Socialist are different and that is the society we live in. As we all pay taxes and believe in state owned schools and military. Which is totalitarian socialist. As we force that upon our people. So Communist is different. They are above the threshold of socialism. So go back to political science school and learn the difference.

There is nothing that should infuriate Americans more than the son of illegal immigrant parents, telling them that their nothing but a bunch of racists. Arellano, you are a racist and a bigot and you will look deep into any whole to prove yourself right.

You are a sad example of why Mexico is a pit. You can take the Mexican out of Mexico, but not the Mexican out of the man! Your mother land is full of racists, murders, thieves, the corrupt. Do an article about your own beloved land, it won't be pretty, I am sure. Why not start off with an article about unsolved murders of thousand of immigrants who happen to have to travel thought a hell hole called Mexico!

I hate to disagree but the only Name up there that changed parties was Strom Thurmond and he was practically crucified... Hell, Trent Lott lost his job for being nice to the guy on his 100th birthday! Had he dtayed a Dem like Byrd all would been forgiven...

I did not know only people who could spell, should be taken seriously? And I suggest you ask me questions that have relevance, if you want me to take YOU seriously. I am good at math and lazy with spell check...Sue me! And Dingos7, you obviously don't stand by your own words, with a name like that.

What? Rambling? I have NO clue what you just said....Speak Spanish, it will be easier.lol And of course you would call it rambling because i reply with more than two stupid words:0)

This is why we need to know who is teaching at our colleges. This Arellano moron, get taxpayer funding to teach LATINO STUDIES (other words know as, teaching hate) At Fullerton. This same bull that is being taken out of AZ colleges because of the race content.

You, shut me up? HA! You're just continuing the same rambling you became infamous for over at Orange Juice. Your Know Nothing attitude is a disgrace to your last name—but, hey, be happy the English now like you haha!

The reason Gustavoarellano, has nothing to counter back with, is due to the fact, he is SPINELESS. He can only take on White Americans, who seem to back off a little faster. Americans have become, way too easy going, when it comes to their culture, heritage and character being attacked by foreign nationalists with an American Birth Cert. I won't, and he has nothing to say; I kind of shut him up:)

So you can reply to me in Spanish Gusto; I can google the translation.

I met you once in Michael Steiner's American Studies class once, I thought you were alright but now I just think your a douchebag. People are entitled to their opinion and thats why they comment. Your opinion is in the article! In defending your article you make yourself seem as if you don't stand behind your work. You shouldn't need to defend something you strongly believe in and our article led me to believe that was true but I guess not.

You are always spinning the truth. The truth is, your culture, ethnicity, has more to fear from there own, than any white klan member. This past month alone headless bodies have been found in AZ, ID and now the Hollywood hills. Your worst enemy has arrived in America....Your home grown drug lords. Good luck with that one!

Because they are too busy listening to latino music? I don't know. But I do think it has something to do with the fact their parents won't learn english and won't help them with school work? It's a hard one; all i know is a lot of klan supporters need to study more instead of hanging out at cultural centers.

Not all of the IRISH are catholics. What is the difference in the klans hatred and yours...Nothing!

The klan are all over the world. They are black, white, brown and yellow. Actually, I think the klan in general, in the world today are mostly brown and black. They organize centers to gether and call them cultural centers and then close the doors and spew their haterd for the race they blame for all their misfortune in life. They have organizations like LA RAZA (The Race) that today advocates for Latina Studies to teach haterd and bigorty. The klan you wrote about, are a small group of nut cases; who are most likey dead and gone,. You need to write about the real klan of today, you will find a lot of them in: Santa Ana and of course LA. You need a new theme "ask a latino klan member". :)